Toothbrush-receptacle and holder



A. G. SULAK. TOOTHBRUSH RECEPTACLE AND HOLDER.

APPLKIATION FIL ED JULY 1, I920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON G. SULAK, OF SEATTLE, W'ASIIINGTON.

TOOTI-IBRU SH-RECEPTACLE AND HOLDER.

T 0 (LN 20 from it may can 001% Be it known that I, ANTON Gr. SULAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of l Vashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toothbrush-Receptacles and Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a tooth brush receptacle and a support for the same and the object of my invention is to provide a receptacle that is'adapted to rcleasably engage the bristles of a tooth brush when the latter is positioned therein;

Another object is to provide a tooth brush receptacle having an opening on one end thereof for the reception of a tooth brush and being provided on its opposite end with a plurality of apertures which will permit of a free circulation of air therethrough.

A further object is to provide a tooth brush receptacle that is adapted to be releasably engaged in a suitable support or holder to thus facilitate the cleansing of the said receptacle or the utilizing of the same as a protector for the tooth brush when traveling. I

A still further object is to provide a tooth brush receptacle embodying simplicity, economy and durability in construc tion, that will preserve the tooth brush in a sanitary condition, that will permit the tooth brush to dry after using thus keeping the same sweet, that is positive and efficient in its operation, and that is readily adaptable for use with any well known form of tooth brushes.

Vith the above and other objects in View which will appear as my description proceeds my invention resides in the novel construction, combination, adaptation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

1 accomplish these objects by devices, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a tooth brush receptacle and its associated support embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section of the same taken on a broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating a tooth brush as it would appear when operatively disposed within my receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on a broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

jacent to the upper end of the same.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted Apr, 26, 1921,

Application fi1ed July 1, 1920. Serial No. 393366.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on a broken line 4l4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates my support or holder, 11 my receptacle and 12 a tooth brush adapted to be releasably disposed within the said receptacle.

The support 10 comprises a frame member 15, a band or ring 16 and a flexible looped member 17, all of which may be fabricated from wire as illustrated in the drawings to thus provide a rigid support embodying simplicity and lightness of weight. The support 10 may also be nickel plated if desired to enhance the appearance of the same.

The frame member 15 is flexed in the rectangular shape substantially as shown in Fig. 1 having the upper and lower end portions of the same provided with loops 18 to facilitate the securing or suspending of the support 10 in any desired position.

The band 16 and the looped member 17 are fixedly secured to the frame member 15 in spaced apart relation as illustrated to provide a suitable support for the upper and lower ends of the receptacle 11 when the latter is operatively disposed on the frame member 15, the band 16 serving to positively retain the said upper end in posi Fig. 3 and has its free ends 19 soldered or otherwise fixedly secured to the side or vertical portions of the frame 15 at a point ad- The flexible looped member 17 isfiexed substantially in the shape shown in Fig. 4 to. form a resilient semi-circular portion 20 and rearwardly extending portions or legs 21, the free ends 22 of which are soldered or otherwise fixedly secured to the side or vertical portions of the frame 15 at a point adjacent the lower end of same.

The receptacle 11 which may be fabricated from glass or other suitable transparent material as desired is formed substantially in the cylindrical shape shown in the drawings having one of its ends closed by a wall 23 and having its opposite end provided with a neck 2st in which an axially disposed opening or mouth 25 is formed to provide access to the interior of the receptacle and to permit of the insertion of the functional end of the tooth brush within the same.

The diameter of the opening or mouth 25 being slightly less than the internal diameter of the receptacle 11 an internal annular shoulder 26 is thus provided which is adapted to releasably engage the lower end of the set, of bristles 27 of the tooth brush 12 when the functional end of the latter is operatively disposed within the receptacle as shown in Fig. 2 to thus retain the said tooth brush in position as will be readily understood. The neck 24 is also provided with an exteriorly disposed annular groove 28 which is adapted to receive the semi-eircular por tion 20 of the flexible looped member 17 which thus functions to releasably engage the said neck portion 24; of the receptacle 11, when the latter is operatively disposed on the support 10 as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be obvious by referring to the drawings that this mode of construction positively retains the receptacle 11 against axial movement with respect to the support 10 while readily per mitting of the rapid removal of the said receptacle from the said support when desired, as for example, should the user of the tooth brush in returning the same to the receptacle exert undue force when inserting the functional end of the said tooth brush within the said receptacle the portion 20 seating in the annular groove 28 will. posh tively prevent upward movement of the receptacle 11 on the support 10 or should the user in removing the brush 12 from the receptacle 11 exert undue force in a downward direction the said receptacle will be retained in position by the aforesaid portion 20 engaging in the groove 28.

In order to preserve the tooth brush 12 in a sanitary condition and to permit the drying of the same after use and to prevent the same from becoming sour I have provided ventilating means for the receptacle 11 which permits of a free and constant circulation of air therethrough. The said ventilating means comprising a plurality of holes or apertures 29 formed in the cylindrical walls of the said receptacle contiguous to the upper end of the latter.

In practice I have found that my receptacle constitutes a very efficient protector for tooth brushes keeping the same free from dust and microbes when not in use. While I have shown in the drawings my tooth brush receptacle with. its associated support as a stationary unit foruse in bath rooms and the like, I have also found it very convenient when traveling to remove the re ceptacle 11 from its support 10 and utilize the said receptacle as a protector for the tooth brush 12 while the latter is reposing in a traveling bag or suit case.

It will also be apparent from the foregoing with reference to the drawings that the method of mounting the receptacle 11 in the support 10 permits of its ready removal when desired to sterilize the said receptacle or to utilize the same as a protector apart from the support 10.

If desired a deodorant solution may be used in conjunction with my receptacle to insure of the positive cleansing and sterilization of the said receptacle and the brush contained therein.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation of my tooth brush receptacle will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the structure which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is In a tooth brush repository the combination of a support, a tubular receptacle adapted to be disposed thereon comprising a body portion, a neck portion on one end of the said body portion having an axially disposed mouth formed therein, and an extcriorly disposed. annular groove formed thereon, an annular shoulder formed by the said neck portion on the inner wall of the said receptacle adapted to releasably engage the bristles of a tooth brush, a band adapted to be fixedly secured to the said support adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to encircle and retain the upper end of the said receptacle, a flexible looped member adapted to be fixedly secured to the said support adj acent the lower end thereof and adapted to seat in the aforesaid annular groove and to releasably engage the aforesaid neck portion of the said receptacle, ventilating means for the said receptacle and securing means for the said support.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of June, A. D. 1920.

ANTON G. SULAK. 

